January 14, 1986|By Terry Osinski of The Sentinel Staff (Reporter Mark Andrews contributed to this story.)

SANFORD — The Seminole County Jail administrator has changed the policy concerning trusties working off premises since an inmate, who was assigned to trusty status a day after he was sentenced, walked away from his job Friday.

Authorities Monday were still looking for Jounathan T. Shephard, 37, of Orlando. Shephard was sentenced Thursday to six months for violation of probation. He was assigned to a civilian supervisor to help the Red Cross hand out cheese at the Altamonte Community Chapel.

Capt. Jay Leman said Shephard apparently had access to a phone and made arrangements for a white Ford to pick him up. Witnesses told Seminole County sheriff's investigators that Shephard was last seen about 12:30 p.m. Friday.

After the escape, Leman changed jail policy and said trusty status can be granted only to a prisoner who has been detained at the jail for at least 72 hours. Leman said this will provide more time to investigate criminal backgrounds of the inmates.

Leman said Shephard was sentenced for violating probation on 1980 and 1983 charges of passing worthless checks. He was arrested in September 1984 in Georgia for leaving his residence without the permission of his probation officer.

The screening officer assigned him to the Red Cross job because his background check revealed he had never been a threat to society, Leman said. No disciplinary action will be taken against the screening officer, Leman said.

Shephard is 5-foot-8, 240 pounds, black, with brown eyes and black, short hair.